Value of Pediatric Eye Exams

Research reveals that about 10 percent of preschoolers and around 25 percent of school-aged kids have vision problems. As a parent, you have to find out early if your kid has any trouble seeing correctly. In fact, the American Optometric Association highly recommends eye exams as early as six months of age, by the time your kid turns three, right before he or she starts school, and then every year after that. Here’s why pediatric eye exams are essential.

• School Achievement. Many visual skills are critical for optimal learning. These include excellent visual acuity at all distances, focusing skills, eye-hand coordination, eye movement and tracking, and eye teaming skills. Without a clear vision, your child may have difficulty reading, writing, and completing other schoolwork. Children usually attempt to do the work. However, they may accomplish tasks with a reduced level of comprehension and efficiency. You don’t want learning to be difficult and stressful for your child.

• Early Detection. A newborn’s vision develops during the first couple of years, along with their brains and bodies. Unfortunately, a delay or poor development of visual skills in a child can cost him or her a lifetime of good eyesight. There are eye conditions that can only be treated surgically to avoid blindness. Worse, certain eye diseases can even be fatal. With pediatric eye exams, you can help catch signs early on, prevent permanent vision loss, and save your child’s eyesight.

• Avoid Misdiagnosis. Has your kid seemed fidgety, distressed by his or her schoolwork, and disruptive in class? An Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis may be a no-brainer. But, these behaviors may actually be arising from vision problems. It’s important to understand that a wide array of vision disorders tend to mimic ADHD symptoms. You don’t want your kid to start taking medications when the root of his or her poor attention and behavior is because of a vision problem. Through early eye exams, you will get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Signs to Watch Out For

There are many signs that may indicate that a child has an eye problem. These include the following:

• Seeing double.

• Covering one eye.

• Constant eye rubbing.

• Frequent eye blinking.

• Persistent headaches.

• Tilting the head to one side.

• An eye that’s turning in or out.

Other behavioral changes related to a potential problem with the eyes include short attention span, complaints of discomfort, fatigue, avoiding reading, and trouble recalling what was read, to name a few.

What Goes Down During an Eye Exam

A pediatric eye exam varies slightly from specialist to specialist. However, they are all designed to examine the same basic abilities and potential visual health issues. During a visit to your child’s eye doctor, expect an ocular history check where the doctor asks about hereditary eye conditions and if you have noticed anything out of the ordinary about your child’s eyes. This is followed by a vision assessment, an external inspection of your kid’s eyes and eyelids, and pupil examination. The doctor will also test whether your kid’s eyes move correctly or not.

Are you looking to schedule a thorough eye exam for your child? Visit Shalimar Eye Care today to benefit from our top-tier eye care services. Call our clinic now in Shalimar, Florida, to make an appointment.